Solar Panel Window Blinds!

SolarGaps can turn any window into a source of free energy

If you own your home, it may make sense for you to invest in kitting it out with solar power. But for the millions of folks who rent, it's not possible to go green in this way.

That will change if SolarGaps, a system of solar-panel-laden Venetian blinds, work as advertised. The blinds, which automatically track the sun to maximize their exposure, practically sound too good to be true:

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The project has been successfully Kickstarted, with $66,156 in pledges on a $50,000 goal. There are still eight days left for those who want to get in on it, with blinds starting at $390. (Amusingly, they're also selling $39 single slats, for those who'd like to charge USB devices.)

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One question I have is about functionality: If the blinds are set to track the sun, aren't you then giving up their original light-blocking feature? I suppose the trade-off may be worth it, depending on how green you want to go.